On prevailing wage and Davis-Bacon jobs, the required wage is not just the hourly rate—it includes fringe benefits. Handling and reporting them correctly is where many contractors slip up, and mistakes can hold up payment or trigger penalties.
What are fringe benefits in certified payroll?
Fringe benefits are the portion of the prevailing wage beyond the base hourly rate—things like health insurance, retirement contributions, vacation, and training. On a Davis-Bacon job, the wage determination lists both the base rate and the required fringe amount, and you must provide both.
How do you pay fringe benefits?
You can satisfy the fringe requirement two ways: pay it as additional cash wages, or contribute it to bona fide benefit plans (like health insurance or a retirement plan). Many contractors use a mix, and the choice affects both cost and payroll taxes—so it is worth planning.
How are fringe benefits reported on the WH-347?
The WH-347 has specific places to show fringe benefits paid in cash versus contributed to approved plans. Reporting them incorrectly—or forgetting them—is one of the most common certified payroll errors, and it is exactly the kind of detail a specialist handles for you.
We manage prevailing wage rates, fringe tracking, and weekly WH-347 filings so nothing slips. See our certified payroll services.